Consider two levels here. How are the elephants going to tell their story to gain recognition for the pain they suffer? How is PETA going to gain enough political power to get the attention of the Arts Commission and transform the ideas of the circus-going public?

Why isn't it enough that the elephants performance make the circus-going public aware of the elephants' plight?

Consdier Goffman's Presentation of Self, with a focus on the differenece between backstage and frontstage behavior.

Does PETA want to subject circus-going children to the sight of the elephants' actual mistreatment? Why or why not?

Consider the description of the elephant PETA wants to exhibit. What connotes the suffering of the elephant? Consider also the fear studies in attitude change and persuasion theory. There were newspaper reports of the rejection of David Lynch's cow for the New York summer exhibit. Do you supppose his cow had a tear streaming down its cheek and shackles? Or do you suppose it offered a more frightening image?